Evaluation of attenuation properties of lead glass used for radiation shielding applications

Lead glass, a material containing lead oxide, is widely used for radiation shielding due to its ability to attenuate radiation while remaining optically transparent. This study evaluates the attenuation properties of lead glass using dosimetric measurements with an X-ray machine in a controlled narrow-beam setup to minimize scatter. Air kerma rates were measured in three conditions: without any shielding, with lead glass, and with reference lead sheets of varying thicknesses. Lead equivalence (LE) was calculated by comparing air kerma rates and interpolating between the data for reference lead sheets. Two lead glass samples from different manufacturers were tested across 60–150 kV X-ray energies. Results showed LE values ranging from 3.0 to 2.5 mm Pb for sample 1 and 3.0–2.2 mm Pb for sample 2. This paper aims to describe the methodology used in this laboratory to determine the LE of lead glass or other shielding materials for radiation protection, ensuring compliance with international standard IEC 61331-1 for radiological safety.